Respiratory diseases in HIV-infected patients in Novokuznetsk, Russia

The aim was to examine the structure of respiratory diseases in HIV-infected adults. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> retrospective study of all respiratory cases in HIV infected persons (n=185) admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of Novokuznetsk City Hospital #2 in 2017-2018. In Novokuznetsk (pop. 549 thousand) about 2% of population is known to be HIV-infected. <b>Results:</b> HIV patients accounted for 15,6% of all hospitalized for respiratory diseases over this period (n=1187). Only 13,9% of previously diagnosed with HIV (n=165) were adherent to ART prior to hospitalization. Median CD₄ count was 155 cells/μl. Two or more pulmonary conditions were diagnosed in 15,1% (n=28) of cases. Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) was diagnosed in 38,4% (n=71), tuberculosis (TB) in 27,0% (n=50), septic embolism in 16,8% (n=31), pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in 7,6% (n=14), cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia in 2,9% (n=3) of cases. COPD was observed in10,3% (n=19), including those (n=13) combined with CAP, TB and PCP. Other diseases (acute bronchitis, traumatic pleuritis, pulmonary embolism, lung malignancies) were detected in 7,2% (n=13). Median CD₄ count in PCP was 25 cells/μl, in TB cases - 124 cells/μl, in septic embolism - 189 cells/μl, in CAP - 197 cells/μl (p&lt;0,005). 92,0% of HIV/TB cases (n=46) have been transferred to the TB dispensary immediately after the diagnosis. Fatal outcomes (8,1%; n=15) were recorded in TB (n=4), PCP (n=3), septic embolism (n=2), CAP (n=1), CMV (n=2) and in cases of HIV-associated multiple infections with combination of PCP with CMV or CAP (n=3). <b>Conclusion:</b> CAP, TB, septic embolism and PCP were the most common respiratory diseases in HIV-infected patients in the region with high HIV prevalence.